It is under three weeks to this years Derby which will be run on Saturday 6th June at Epsom. For us old timers the Derby was always run on the first Wednesday in June. The switch to Saturday was made a few years back in order to get the crowds, who create the atmosphere, back to Epsom again. The Derby is the biggest Flat race in the calendar for the three year old colts. No horse has completed the Two Thousand Guineas/Derby double since Naswan in 1989. New Approach, last years Derby winner, was only beaten a nose in the Two Thousand Guineas and came that close to doing the double. This years Two Thousand Guineas winner, Sea the Stars (pictured beating Delegator), could be the one to do the double again. He won comfortably at Newmarket. Aidan O'Brien and the Ballydoyle team also have a very strong hand and it will be interesting to see which horse Johnny Murtagh chooses to ride. I suspect it will be Fame and Glory who stayed on well to win his race in Ireland. Rip Van Winkle finished strongly to be fourth behind Sea the Stars after an interrupted preparation for the Two Thousand Guineas. Black Bear Island finished like a stayer to beat his stable companion Freemantle in the Dante at York. Behind them was the one time antepost favourite for the Derby, Crowded House, who has now been pushed out to 16/1 and his participation in the race is in doubt. Sea the Stars has that change of gear which only the great horses have. I hope he gets to Epsom fit and well. With regard to getting attendances up at the racecourses, the first thing they should do is reduce the entrance charges. Secondly, in order to attract the younger racegoer, the entrance charge should be free for those under 21. Thirdly there should be concessions for the over 60's (not 65's) all of the time, not just on selected days when the racing is mediocre and of little interest. I personally like to attend the big meetings and see the best horses running under National Hunt or Flat. Concessions are never allowed for these meetings by the greedy racecourses. I can understand their logic but eventually they will be shooting themselves in the foot. Horse racing is a minority sport. If the powers that be want to attract more people to the racecourses they must reduce the entrance charges. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The French 2000 and 1000 Guineas will be run tomorrow (Sunday) at Longchamp. The 2000 Guineas looks a very open affair but the 1000 Guineas should provide owner George Strawbridge with some consolation after Rainbow View's disappointing run in our 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. His filly Fantasia (pictured) was very impressive when winning at the Newmarket Craven Meeting. Trainer, Luca Cumani, reports the filly to be in top form and with Frankie Dettori in the saddle she should win and therefore cement her position at the head of the antepost market for the Oaks. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

This weekend at Newmarket sees the first two Classics of the Flat Racing season run over the Rowley Mile. In the 2000 Guineas Delegator and Rip Van Winkle have come in for plenty of support in the antepost market. Delegator was well backed for the race before even setting foot on a racecourse this season. He established his position at the head of the market with an impressive win over the course in the Craven Stakes. Rip Van Winkle comes from the Aidan O'Brien yard and is the chosen mount of Johnny Murtagh. Both horses were amongst the also rans behind Intense Focus in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last October. Also in that race were Ashram, Lord Shanakil, Finjaan and Ouqba. The 2000 Guineas does look very open but Delegator must have improved a lot for trainer Brian Meehan to be so confident about him. Ashram joined Godolphin after the Dewhurst where he finished upsides Delegator and might be the eachway value under Frankie Dettori. Rainbow View looks as though she could be something special and should win the 1000 Guineas on Sunday if reproducing her two year old form. For all the latest news from Newmarket Racecourses click on Newmarket. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

Day 4 of the Punchestown Festival has the Rabobank Champion Hurdle as the centre piece at 17.30 pm this evening. Punjabi just got home at Cheltenham and is fancied to win here. The forgotton horse is Sizing Europe (pictured) who has had his training problems. His trainer, Henry de Bromhead, states "the horse to be over his problems". If that is the case Sizing Europe should make the frame and could be the each way bet. At 18.05 pm we have the Land Rover Champion Novice Hurdle which looks as though it will be another winner for the Willie Mullins yard. He runs the impressive Cheltenham winner Mikael D'Haquenet and Cousin Vinny who will be ridden by Patrick Mullins, teenage son of the trainer. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".